Pochettino: Ligue 1’s physical confrontation is stronger than the Premier League. Winning the Champions League is Paris’s goal
Live broadcast, November 13th, Paris coach Pochettino accepted an interview with Ligue 1’s official website today, answering questions about the way the Ligue 1 matches and his goals
You played here 20 years ago, became the captain, and left a good memory. How does it feel to be back here?
I think this is great, this is an amazing comeback. When I was a player 20 years ago, I thought this was one of the best periods of my career. I found how amazing it is to live in Paris and live in this club. It’s amazing. I might share this experience with my coaching staff, which is amazing because when you are a player, you are alone with your family. We are a big group and the coaching staff is also there. We are not only colleagues, but also friends. This experience is very dreamy.
Do you think going back to a club you are familiar with is an advantage?
I think you will never know. Because I coached in the Spaniard, I was also a Spaniard player, then we went to Southampton, then Tottenham Hotspur, now Paris Saint-Germain. This is different. I think when you were a player, you always thought about the club’s idea, but now this idea has changed. When you arrive, you already know those people.
It’s good in many ways, but it’s strange in many ways. When you go to new clubs like Southampton and Tottenham, you feel like you have been there for a long time, which is also good. Of course, I think this is different because your position is different. Players and coaches are not the same.
In your current coaching career, you have coached Spaniards and you have played for them before. And now Paris Saint-Germain, does this mean that you are a person who listens to your heart?
I think all the decisions I remember so far are from the heart, through my emotions. Of course, when you run in your life, now that I am almost 50 years old, you start to communicate more with your brain, and your brain starts to participate more in your decisions. But the final decision is always related to my emotions and heart. Of course, when you feel this, you may succeed or fail, but the decision is always correct.
You said that at Paris Saint-Germain you had the best time of your career. Looking back at that time, what did you think of?
The first day I came to Parc de Paris, I scored the first goal in Parc de Prince… It is possible to play with players like Ococha and Ronaldinho… Yes, I can play with Parc de Princes. Together with the fans in the stadium, they are great. I don’t know, there are many, many, many memories.
You scored a goal in your debut in Prince Park. Have you already felt a special connection with this place?
Yes, because the fans of Paris Saint-Germain are amazing. They like and recognize the ability and commitment of players in the game. I think they like South American players, Argentina and Brazil players. I think this connection is good. This is an example. All Argentine and Brazilian players are always very popular in this club.
Outside of France, people may not realize that Paris Saint-Germain has such a history. How important is it to maintain this historical connection?
People are beginning to realize how old Paris Saint-Germain is. 50 years old, but big. I think in the past few years, this is about collecting championships, domestic championships, and trying to win the dream of European championships. The Champions League is the championship we want to compete most. Now I think the whole world understands that Paris Saint-Germain wants to be a contender for the Champions League. This is a goal. I said before that this is not an obligation, but a desire, a desire to win, because many clubs want to win. But today’s Paris Saint-Germain is a huge winner. In the past few years, people have begun to realize, or have realized, how big the club is.
You said that the new players are very good, and they all have a winning mind. Is this the most important thing for you?
I think this is the most important thing for the club. I am a member of this club. I think the club has determined the players that can be signed in the market. I think this is a very good signing. Of course, I am not only happy for the players who came to the team, but also for the players here last season. I am very happy for the team. Maybe it’s a bigger team with stronger strength.
It feels that the league is getting stronger and stronger. This season, Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Monaco, Rennes and even Reims have joined Paris Saint-Germain and Lille. Do you feel this situation too?
Yes, but my impression is that this is a very complicated league. The strength is here. I think this is a very competitive league in the world. Of course this is a league, I won’t say it surprised us, but when you participate in it, you will enjoy it.
Even stronger than the Premier League confrontation?
Yes.
This will surprise English people
I did not say that the first league is better than the English League, better than the Premier League. I think the way the game is played here is more intense than the Premier League confrontation.
Guardiola said he likes Verratti very much, do you think so too
I didn’t hear him say that, I don’t know what kind of way it was.
One last question, what is the top priority for the next few months? What is the goal? How will you achieve these goals?
What is the goal? For me, there is only one goal at Paris Saint-Germain: to win the next game. If not, you have a problem. I know what this type of club is going through. Paris is one of the biggest clubs in the world and you must focus on winning the next game. You must win. Finally, you need to pay something important. Of course, everyone is waiting for us to bring something important, to win the Ligue 1 championship, win the French Cup or the Champions League.
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